Shell brass recovering machine



Nov. 29, 1960 w. H. CARSON 2,961,754

SHELL BRASS RECOVERING MACHINE Filed May 15, 1958 B n {0gb Attornqy United States Patent William H. Carson, Kilmar, Quebec, Canada, assignor t0 Il- Iarbison-Walker Refractories Company, Pittsburgh,

Filed May 15, 1958, Ser. No. 735,515

Claims. (Cl. 29-208) This invention relates to an apparatus for separating the metallic and non-metallic components of shot and slug gun shell casings.

The conventional shot or slug gun shell casing comprises a base or bed of brass or other metal and a body or tube of cardboard or other collapsible material extending into and fixed to the head as by crimping or the like. The casing also contains a base wad, which remains after firing. Large quantities of such casings frequently accumulate as rejects in manufacturing plants because" of defects in manufacture and as spent shells in various sporting and industrial operations such as carried out at skeet gun clubs and rotary kiln plants. Heretofore, casings of rejected or spent shells have been either discarded or their contained metal bases reclaimed by burning off the combustible portions of the casings and salvaging the metal. The latter method is open to objection in that it involves cosiderable labor, it requires the use of a furnace and screening apparatus, and it is subject to fire and explosion hazards. Such a hazard may be particularly serious inexplosive manufacturing plants and in the case where an occasional explodible shell is present amongst the rejects.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for readily and cheaply separating the metal heads from used and rejected gun shell casings, whereby the metal therefrom may be reclaimed.

The invention resides in a machine having a holder arranged to receive a row of gun shell casings, said holder having means gripping the metal head of each casing in said row to prevent axial movement thereof, and pulling means engaging the collapsible tube of each casing in said row in successive order to exert an axial pull thereon and separate such collapsible tube from the metal head.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine,

Figure 4 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the pulling mechanism, and

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of a gun shell casing.

In the drawing, 1 is a main frame on the upper portion of which there maybe mounted a tray 2 adapted to receive a supply of shell casings 8, the metal of which is to be recovered therefrom. Referring to Figure 5,

'each shell casing comprises a metal head 9 having an end rim orbead 10 and a primer'10a, and a collapsible tube 12 of cardboard or the like anchored in the head. The casing also usually contains a base wad 12a which remains in the casing after firing of the shell.

Mounted in the main frame adjacent one end thereof is an auxiliary frame 3 and carried therein is a feeding slide or cartridge loader 4. As shown, the loader 4 comprises a base plate 5 having a longitudinally extending channel 6 therein, and a pair of parallel guide blocks 7 fixed to the plate 5 and extending longitudinally thereof, each block having a portion overhanging a respective edge of channel 6.

It will be observed that a row of shell casings 8 may be fed into the loader 4 with the end of the metal head 9 of each casing seated upon the bottom wall of channel 6 and the projecting rim 10 of the head extending under the overhanging portions of blocks 7. The channel 6 may be provided with a central longitudinally extending groove 6a to receive the primer caps of the casings and thus avoid explosion in the case of an explodible primer 10a. The loader may also be provided with guide rails 11 mounted on the blocks 7 which serve to facilitate positioning of the casings in the loader and to support them in position therein. The tube 12 of each shell casing projects outwardly beyond the rails 11.

Any suitable means is provided for imparting sliding movement to the row of shell casings in the loader to present the casings in successive order for treatment. It will be apparent that various types of mechanical means may be provided for this purpose. A simple gravity feed arrangement is illustrated in the drawing by way of example. This arrangement comprises the disposition of the auxiliary frame 3 and the loader 4 at such an angle with respect to the main frame, which is normally disposed in a horizontal plane, that the shell casings will slide freely down the loader under the influence of gravity. This angle may be of the order of 45, as shown, which has been found to be satisfactory. A stop 11a, which may be fixed to the lower end of a guide rail 11, is arranged to contact the foremost casing in the row to stop downward movement of the row beyond a position determined by location of the stop. The stop 11a contacts the tube 12 of the casing at a point somewhat above the metal head 9.

It will be apparent that, while the casings are free to slide in the loader, they are restrained from lateral and axial movement by reason of engagement of the blocks 7 with the rims 10 of the metal heads.

Means for separating the tubes 12 and contained wads 12a from the metal heads 9 comprise a pair of rotary pullers 13 mounted on parallel shafts 14 and 15 journalled in the auxiliary frame 3. Shafts 14 and 15 are synchronously driven in opposite directions by means of two identical meshing gears 16, one of which is fixed to shaft 14 and the other of which is fixed to shaft 15. Shaft 14 is driven through a speed reduction power transmission train by a motor 17. As shown, the speed reduction train may comprise a variable speed reducer unit 18, a sheave 19 fixed to shaft 14, a sheave 20 fixed to shaft 21 of the reducer unit 18, a belt 22 connecting sheaves 19 and 20, a sheave 23 fixed to shaft 24 of the reducer unit 18, a sheave 25 fixed to motor shaft 26, and a belt 27 connecting sheaves 23 and 25. Reducer unit 18 may be adjustably mounted on frame member 28 by means of bolts 29.

Each puller 13 consists of a plate or disc having at least one arcuate nipping surface 31) and in the modification shown a pair of diametrically opposite peripheral arcuate nipping surfaces 30 of uniform radius. The remaining peripheral surfaces 31 of each plate are recessed with respect to surfaces 30. It will be apparent that the pullers 13 must rotate in the same plane. The radius of surfaces 30 is such that, on revolution of the pullers 13, a surface 39 of one puller will closely approach a surface 30 of the other puller in coincidental movement to provide a nipping means as clearly shown in Figure 4. Each surface 30 is preferably roughened or knurled, as illustrated.

It will be further observed that the loader 4 is positioned with its center line parallel to the axes of shafts 14 and 15 and equidistant therefrom. The lower end of the loader extends under the pullers 13 and is spaced fromthe nip point thereof a distance somewhat less than the length of a shell casing whereby when the latter slides down the loader, the tip portion of the paper cylinder thereof will be engaged by the n'pping surfaces 30.

In operation, with the pullers 13 revolving, shell casings are fed into the upper end of the loader 4 to form a downwardly sliding row, as shown. As the foremost casing slides down the loader, its tube 12 is engaged and collapsed between a pair of nipping surfaces 30 and is firmly gripped therebetween. It will be apparent that the clearance between surfaces 30 when in npping position will be determined by the thickness of a collapsed tube and will be such as to exert a firm grip thereon. At the same time, the tube 12 will be subjected to an axial pull in a direction away from the metal head 9. As shown, the major axis of the tube 12 is at right angles to the axis of rotation of each puller 13. However, since the head 9 is held against axial movement in the loader, the tube 12 and contained w-ad 12a will be pulled away from the metal head and separated therefrom. As shown, the circumferential distance between the surfaces 30 in each puller is approximately three times that of each surface 30 to provide a desirable interval between the nipping cycles of the pullers. However, it will be apparent that this distance may be varied as required. It will be apparent that the circumferential length of each surface 30 must be less than the exposed length of the tube 12 but greater than the length of the metal head 9. T he width of each surface 30 should not be greater than and should preferably be that of a collapsed tube 12.

As the pullers continue to revolve, the separated tube 12 and contained wad 12a continue to move upwardly between the surfaces 30 and finally, as the surfaces 30 move apart from each other, the tube and Wad are also disengaged therefrom and fall free of pullers 13. A chute 32 mounted in the frame may be provided to receive the fallng tubes and guide them into a receptacle.

The separated metal head 9 is now free to continue its sliding motion down the loader and it finally falls from the lower end thereof. A chute 33 may also be provided to receive the falling heads and guide them into another receptacle.

It will be apparent that, as the pair of surfaces 30 move apart, a pair of recessed surfaces 31 will move into opposed relation to form a free space therebetween. This space permits movement of the next succeeding shell casing in the row into proper position for engagement by the next pair of nipping surfaces 30. It will be understood that, unless mechanical feeding is provided, the rate of revolution of the pullers 13 must not exceed that corresponding to the rate of gravity feed of the shell casings in the loader so that they are successively subjected to the action of the pullers.

There has thus been described a simple and inexpensive machine for readily and economically separating metal heads from shell casings. The recovery of such metal is of great benefit in many industrial operations, and it results in a substantial saving in cost. For instance, in one plant where guns are employed to remove clinker rings from kilns, a saving of 5% of the cost of the shells was obtained. Moreover, the metal recovered in the manner described is much more valuable than that recovered by burning out the cardboard tubes since, in the latter case, foreign matter such as partially burned cardboard is usually present. A

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for disassembling metal heads from the collapsible tubes of used and rejected gun shell casings which comprises frame, a shell casing holder mounted in said frame and having metal head engageable members and a shell tube receiving opening between said members, a pair of revolvable pullers mounted in said frame and overlying said members, each said puller comprising a plate having a peripheral arcuate edge surface and a recessed edge surface on each side of said arcuate surface, said plates being coplanar, and means for synchronously revolving said plates in opposite directions, the axes of revolution of said plates being substantially parallel, said pullers having a tube engageable pulling position and a tube disengageable position, said arcuate surfaces being in aligned facing relation during said pulling position and said recessed edge surfaces being in aligned facing relation during said tube disengageable position. I

2. A machine for diassembling metal heads from the collapsible tubes of used and rejected gun shell casings as defined in claim 1, said holder comprising a plate having a channel therein, said metal head engageable members comprising a pair of spaced guide blocks each having an edge portion overhanging said channel.

3. A machine for disassembling metal heads from the collapsible tubes of used and rejected gun shell casings as defined in claim 1, said holder comprising a plate having a channel therein, said channel having a plane metal head engaging surface inclined to the horizontal, said metal head engageable members comprising a pair of spaced guide blocks each having an edge portion overhanging said channel, said puller plates being disposed in perpendicular relation to said channel surface.

4. A machine for disassembling metal heads from the collapsible tubes of used and rejected gun shell casings which comprises a frame, a shell casing holder mounted in said frame and having metal head engageable members and a shell tube receiving opening between said members, a pair of revolvable pullers mounted in said frame and overlying said members, each said puller comprising a plate having a pair of peripheral arcuate edges and a pair of recessed edge surfaces, each said recessed edge surface extending from the end of one of said arcuate edge surfaces to the end of the other of said arcuate edge surfaces, said plates being coplanar, and means for synchronously revolving said plates in opposite directions, the axes of revolution of said plates being substantially parallel, said pullers having a tube engageable pulling position and a tube disengageable position, one of said arcuate surfaces of one said plate being in aligned facing relation with one of said arcuate surfaces of the other of said plates during said pulling position, and one of said recessed surfaces of said one plate being in aligned facing relation with one of said recessed surfaces of said other plate during said tube disengageable position.

5. A machine for disassembling metal heads from the collapsible tubes of used and rejected gun shell casings as defined in claim 4, said arcuate surfaces of each said plate being in diametrically opposite relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,472,833 Herold Nov. 6, 1923 2,595,641 Clearwater May 6, 1952 2,672,837 Maher Mar. 23, 1954 2,684,527 Hedlund July 27, 1954 2,696,039 Baker Dec. 7, 1954 

